Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer AKEBONO (DD 108) which arrived in Trincomalee on 28th October 2023 on a formal visit, departed the island today (31st October). The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship in accordance with naval traditions at the Trincomalee harbour. On her departure, JMSDF AKEBONO (DD 108) […]

Pope Francis has called for a ceasefire in the Holy Land. Addressing the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square for his Sunday Angelus, the Holy Father invited everyone to “continue to pray  for the serious situation in Palestine and Israel”. In particular, he asked that humanitarian aid be allowed to enter Gaza and that all […]

Glenn Maxwell hit the fastest World Cup hundred off 40 balls and propelled Australia to 399/8 against Netherlands in Delhi. The base was set up earlier by a hundred from David Warner and half-centuries from Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. Maxwell, whose hundred was also the fourth fastest in ODIs, surpassed Aiden Markram’s feat by […]

At least 17 people have been killed and more than 100 others wounded after two trains collided in northeastern Bangladesh, police and officials said. The crash in the city of Bhairab saw a cargo train smash into a passenger train from the rear, derailing two passenger carriages, officials said on Monday. “We have recovered 17 […]

By Sanjeewa Jayaweera The English cricketer Moeen Ali, who incidentally is also the vice-captain of the team, posted on his Instagram page a thought-provoking quote: “If you are not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing”. The quote is attributed […]

Fresh probe on 2019 Easter Sunday carnage: C4 won’t appear before committee By Shamindra Ferdinando The UK’s Channel 4 has declined to appear before the Presidential Commission of Inquiry on the Easter Sunday carnage. The television station has said that it couldn’t reveal confidential sources or what it called confidential journalistic material. Referring to the […]

Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, says she has separated from her long-time partner Andrea Giambruno. She announced the split on social media hours after a TV show broadcast explicit comments made off-air by TV host Giambruno to female colleagues. Ms Meloni said the relationship, “which lasted almost 10 years, ends here. Our paths have been […]

It’s so hurtful to watch TV news on the Gaza strip and all-out war in the region. Netanyahu seems determined to obliterate this little land of two million people and wipe its Palestinians off the face of the earth. The UN has declared it impossible for the Gazans to heed the Israeli command to quit […]

Let us set the record straight, officially Retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera recently declared that in his capacity as Chairman of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on National Security he would present to President Ranil Wickremesinghe a comprehensive report on how the war was conducted. The recent US denial of a visa to Adm. Weerasekera underlines […]

by Amal de Chickera At the very centre of the catastrophe, are the people of Gaza themselves, caged in, bombed out, starved, parched, killed. Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, the Palestinian diaspora, Israeli allies who are anti-occupation, anti-authoritarianism and pro-peace, citizens of the world with a conscience – all of us are […]

Tributes have been paid to a prominent Somali TV journalist after he was killed in a suicide bombing at a restaurant in the capital, Mogadishu. Abdifatah Moalim Nur, popularly known as Qeys, was described by colleagues as “exceptional” and “inspiring”. He becomes the first journalist to be killed in Somalia this year, according to a […]

This week, China is throwing a huge party to celebrate one of its biggest experiments in engaging with the world: its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Officials and leaders from all over the globe are in Beijing to attend a high-level summit marking the BRI’s 10th anniversary. Participants expected to show up range from Vladimir […]

A major project to plant 10 million trees was launched this morning (Oct. 14) in celebration of the 18th anniversary of TV Derana.

Poland elects a new parliament this weekend after a bitterly fought campaign that has seen each side paint the other аs a dire, national threat. The governing, right-wing Law and Justice party, or PiS, is battling to secure a record third term in office. It says the opposition would weaken Poland with mass migration and […]

A prominent Italian journalist has been found guilty of libel after insulting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in a television interview. Roberto Saviano used a swear word to describe Ms Meloni while attacking her stance on migration in December 2020. He has been handed a suspended fine of 1,000 euros (£864). Though he will only have […]

Easter Sunday terror attacks By Shamindra Ferdinando The National Catholic Committee (NCC) has presented a five-point proposal to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, spelling out how it expects the concerns relating to the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage to be addressed. The proposal includes the suspension of Senior DIGs, Nilantha Jayawardena, former head of State Intelligence Service (SIS) […]

Israel has launched missile strikes on Syria’s two main airports in Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo, knocking both out of service, Syrian state media has said. The “simultaneous” attacks damaged landing strips in the two airports, “putting them out of service,” state news agency SANA said on Thursday, citing a military source.  No […]

In late September, the Export-Import Bank of China had tentatively agreed with Sri Lanka on the debt treatment, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday (10) during his regular press conference. He said this answering a question posed by a journalist from China Central Television (CCTV). CCTV: “Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring is at […]

Militant group Hamas could very well have ‘bitten off more than it could chew.’ Hamas’ ongoing morbidly bloody and dramatic military onslaught on Israeli territory bordering the Gaza strip is by any standard daring but isn’t it more foolhardy than bold and courageous? The more seasoned Middle East commentator could not be faulted for raising […]

The Supreme Court has asked the Attorney General to consider consenting to bail for the High Court Trial-at-Bar accused, held in remand for over four years in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage. The SC said so when two appeals filed by the AG from an order of the Court of Appeal came up. […]

The US says it is moving an aircraft carrier, ships and jets to the eastern Mediterranean and will also give Israel additional equipment and ammunition. It follows the Hamas attack on southern Israel, which President Biden called an “unprecedented and appalling assault”. The US was also working to verify reports its citizens were among those […]

Jackson Anthony, one of Sri Lanka’s multi talented artiste who excelled as an actor, director, producer, singer, screenwriter, television host, novelist, columnist, lyricist, historian and traveler has passed away at the ICU of the Colombo National Hospital this morning (09). . Jackson Anthony was hospitalised on July 02, 2022 after being injured when the vehicle […]